By Jeune Bailey Van Keric 

TEENAGER Rickey Risaul Somwaru’s life changed overnight five years ago, when his father set him alight, but the pain, disfigurement and rejections, after that harrowing event, did not deter him from excelling at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations.

Somwaru, 17, who secured 14 subjects, grades one to three at CSEC, credits his success to his resilience and ability to remain focused in the face of adversity.

On May 7, 2015, Somwaru went to the Rose Hall Estate Staff Club to urge his father, Ravindra Somwaru, who was drinking with associates, to return home. The father did but continued drinking when he returned home. When the alcohol was finished, Ravindra attempted to leave the house to buy more alcohol but the boy protested and closed the door of the house.

This act by the son infuriated the drunken father who took off his boots and flogged the child with it. Not satisfied, he poured methylated spirits on the boy, scratched a match and threw the lit stick at him, causing the child to suffer severe burns about the body.

Somwaru remembers the incident very well but has decided to put it behind him and focus on life ahead.

Since receiving his grades a few days ago, the young man has registered at the University of Guyana, Tain Campus, where he would read for an associate degree in biology.

It is another step closer to Somwaru achieving his dream of becoming a medical doctor. His passion for medicine was born under unfortunate circumstances.

Somwaru’s interest in medicine took root during the many months he spent at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston, USA, where he was treated for second and third degree burns to his face, neck, chest, upper extremities, and both thighs.  The injuries were listed as life-threatening and disfiguring to the skin.

Initially, he faced challenges regarding moving the neck, arms and mouth but gradually his situation improved. Though the journey was difficult, especially when persons would stare or because his wounds oozed, and, on those days, he opted to isolate himself from others in the classroom, not wanting them to smell his burnt flesh.

PAST DOES NOT DEFINE YOU

Somwaru lives by the mantra, “Your past does not define you, as one has to live with the scars.”

He often feels embarrassed, frustrated and depressed to look at the scars on his body, which he emphasised would remain with him for the rest of his life.

Added to this, the young man has had to deal with rejection from some of his friends and peers at school and being mocked at times, stared and laughed at, much to his annoyance, due to his physical appearance.

Somwaru does not see himself as a normal child because of his inability to play and participate in activities such as cricket and football at school and within the community he resides.

His participation is impeded due to the fact that he had to endure six different types of laser and surgical procedures. He was also advised by his doctor, Leo Sheridan Roberts of Shiners Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, to desist from engaging in strenuous activities.

The young man was also advised to wear long sleeves clothing to protect against the sun and sand as such elements could aggravate his burns.

His mother, Shanta Bhim is overjoyed with her son’s success.
”Ricky is a resilient child. For him everything seems so effortless. I am so grateful for the young man he has become,” she said.

Although, the teenager’s wounds are visible, he was never treated differently at home. However, due to the corrective surgeries overseas, he can now close his mouth, his neck can rotate, and the hands and elbows are now movable.

However, continual surgeries must be performed on him during yearly visits overseas for the next 10 years for him to get to some state of near normalcy. Somwaru was unable to travel this year because of the global pandemic, COVID-19.

As for Rickey’s father, he remains incarcerated. He is serving a 20-year sentence which was imposed on him after he was found guilty of the sick act by a jury panel in 2017.